High School

The isosceles triangle has a perimeter of 7.5 m. Which equation can be used to find the value of [tex]x[/tex] if the shortest side, [tex]y[/tex], measures 2.1 m?

A. [tex]2x - 2.1 = 7.5[/tex]

B. [tex]4.2 + y = 7.5[/tex]

C. [tex]y - 4.2 = 7.5[/tex]

D. [tex]2.1 + 2x = 7.5[/tex]

Answer :

To solve for [tex]\( x \)[/tex] in this isosceles triangle problem, follow the steps below:

1. Understand the Problem:
- You have an isosceles triangle with a perimeter of 7.5 meters.
- The shortest side, denoted by [tex]\( y \)[/tex], measures 2.1 meters.
- You want to find the value of [tex]\( x \)[/tex], which represents the length of the two equal sides.

2. Recall the Perimeter Formula for Isosceles Triangle:
- In an isosceles triangle, two sides are equal. Let's assume these equal sides measure [tex]\( x \)[/tex] each, and the third side is [tex]\( y \)[/tex].
- The perimeter of the triangle is the sum of all its sides: [tex]\( 2x + y = \text{perimeter} \)[/tex].

3. Substitute Known Values:
- You know the perimeter is 7.5 meters and [tex]\( y = 2.1 \)[/tex] meters. Plug these into the equation:
[tex]\[
2x + 2.1 = 7.5
\][/tex]

4. Select the Correct Equation:
- From the provided options, identify the equation that matches what we derived:
- [tex]\( 2.1 + 2x = 7.5 \)[/tex]

Thus, the equation that can be used to find the value of [tex]\( x \)[/tex] is:
[tex]\[
2.1 + 2x = 7.5
\][/tex]